The Department of Environment (DoE) has gone through a number of transformations since its initial convening as an advisory body on environmental issues in 1990. Dubbed the Historical, Conservation and Environmental Commission (HCEC), the HCEC had been under discussion for a number of years, but did not hold its inaugural meeting until September of 1989. Even then, its terms of reference was not promulgated and approved by Cabinet until 1990.

At that first meeting it was suggested that the HCEC would:
• Advise Government and propose legal measures to protect historic sites and the environment;
• Monitor housing and land development schemes, pollution threats and other environmental impacts; and
• Educate the public on environmental issues.


The HCEC comprised a membership from both the public and private sectors. However, the primary functions of the HCEC were to serve as the designated local national committee to provide direction to Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) and Island Resources Foundation (IRF) in the preparation of the Antigua-Barbuda Environmental Profile.

“This Commission was the first attempt by government to address any concentrated attention towards conservation issues. One of the most important outputs of the HCEC was the publication of the first ever country environmental profile which was an in-depth assessment of conservation issues at a national level and which is still consulted to this day.”

It was not until 1998 that the HCEC was upgraded to the Environment Division (ED). At that time, the ED had 4 staff members (the Chief Environment Officer and three technical officers). The ED was placed under the portfolio of the Ministry of Tourism (and Environment). At that time the duties of the ED were dramatically increased compared to the functions of the HCEC before it. Although the ED did not have any legislative authority it was required to serve as the national Focal Point to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. This meant that the role of the ED had gone from being an advisory body on environmental conservation issues to a standing division of government responsible for international representation on key environmental issues and being chiefly responsible for implementing and reporting how the nation of Antigua and Barbuda met its treaty obligations to the Rio Conventions.

In 1999 the staff complement grew to seven.

Although the HCEC was no more and now a government division existed, the ED did not relinquish its original spirit as a body that sought the view points and inputs of related public and private sector agencies. This was achieved by the convening of the National Coordinating Mechanism (NCM) for implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Another duty that had been thrust upon the ED was the inclusion of the National Beautification Programme into its core of activities. This was a programme to invite NGOs/CBOs and concerned business to adopt public spaces (coordinated by the ED) and ensure that rubbish was removed at least once a week and grass cut at least once a month.


One notable off shoot of the National Beautification Programme was the increase of the public awareness and public education activities of the ED. This involved having World Environment Day and Arbour Month as major celebration in the ED Calendar and the establishment of the Environmental Cadet programme (volunteer youth groups in school) and EcoZone (a youth camp and a TV reality show). 

Over the years, the staff number of the ED has grown significantly, particularly to meet its ever increasing mandate. In 2003, the staffing numbers reached near 20 with clear division of duties, namely technical (7), administrative (6) and nursery (6). The increasing mandate of the ED however had other consequences. Especially without a clear legislative policy to guide the ED, much of its work had to be done in collaboration with other government agencies since authority at times had to be ‘borrowed’.

Increased duties included taking on the mandate of becoming:

• Management Authority for the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species in 2004;

• Focal Point for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants;

• Focal Point for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (related to the UNCBD);

• OECS Technical Point; and

• Focal Point for the Global Environment Facility.


It further required that various members of staff were required to serve in key positions as it related to environmental conventions, and necessitated an increased execution of various environmental projects related to the implementation of the various MEAs.

In 2015, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) enacted the Environment Protection and Management Act (EPMA). This piece of legislation was the result of years of consultation with various local, national, regional and international stakeholders to finally provide the ED with a clear legal mandate.

The EPMA means that the ED has become the Department of Environment (DoE). The importance of the EPMA is not just a name change. It now gives the DoE its own legislative authority to compel anyone within the geographical boundaries of Antigua and Barbuda to observe environmental best practices. Additionally, one of the key aspects of this legislation, which makes it stand out to other Acts that give enforcement authority to government agencies is the financial provision within. Specifically the EPMA establishes a Sustainable Island Resources Framework (SIRF) Fund, which will initially own assets from which it will generate an income. In the first instance these assets will be wind turbines, solar panels, sewage treatment systems and a system to recycle waste oil and a revolving loan system to assist with energy access for all. What is envisioned is that the services of sewage treatment, electricity and water generation will be purchased by APUA, or directly by specifically targeted consumers such as the government. The SIRF Fund was established to finance:

Activities and projects intended to protect and manage the environment;

Programmes for the establishment and management of wetlands and watersheds; and

Adaptation and mitigation of climate change and necessary expenses incurred in the negotiation, monitoring or audit of any code of environmental practice. 


The SIRF Fund, in essence, will fund the work that the legislation governs and provide non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector with the means necessary to implement the legislation. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) realizes that a key factor in attracting and maintaining the levels of funding required for this mechanism is the strong adherence to meeting international fiduciary standards. In August 2015, the Environment Division completed the first step in this process when it became the OECS’s (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) first internationally accredited agency to the Adaptation Fund. This will allow Antigua and Barbuda to secure up to USD$10 million dollars to be placed in the SIRF Fund. Funding will also come from revenues from protected areas and ecotourism user fees. The Fund will be able to own assets, negotiate Debt for Nature swaps and will reforest watersheds to assist with water production and dam construction and protection.

The legislation addresses the following issues: 

• Air quality in offices and other buildings;

• Protection and management of watersheds and waterways;

• Risk reduction strategies (this is very important for adaptation and insurance issues);

• Protected areas management;

• Chemicals management;

• Environmental Pollution control and Monitoring;

• Energy Conservation GHG emission reduction Hazardous waste;

• Sewage Management;

• CITES and general wildlife management;

• Reporting to International Environmental Agreements;

• Access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits; and

• Environmental information, education and public awareness related to all the above.